156 SHOW-ROOMS.
into a cylindrical form, and giving it, with emery, its last perfect polish. We saw, also, the progress of ope rations in bronze, and silver, and papier mache ; and could scarcely believe that those highly ornamented articles, in the repository of the latter, screens, ta bles, cabinets, &c., inlaid with pearl, and radiant with the richest hues of the pencil, could possibly have sprung from so rude an element as coarse, brown paste board.
To Sheffield, the kindred spirit of Birmingham, we turned, as by natural affinity. It is about equidistant from the eastern and western oceans, and two hundred and fifty miles from our favorite Edina. It is strongly picturesque, with its abrupt declivities, intervening spaces of bright verdure, metallic and mineral riches, and private residences of decided elegance.
We were kindly taken by the Messieurs Sanderson to their celebrated establishment for making and refin ing steel, and saw it poured, in its liquid state, from flame-hot crucibles, with the most brilliant scintillations. Through their attention, we were also shown the vari ous processes of silver-plating ; and also the fair botanic garden and conservatory, which afforded sensible relief from the heat and mystery of metalic exhibitions. Afterwards we visited the show-rooms of Rogers and Sons, and among their almost endless variety of cut lery, silver, and ivory, saw under a glass case the knife with one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight blades, so often marvelled at by travellers. The pros pects from the heights around Sheffield are variegated
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